7 Beauty Lessons We Learned at New York Fashion Week

There was a spirit of dark new glamour afoot at the New York collections, where slick, high-gloss hair and subversive touches suddenly felt fresh again. From a pretty new 3-D twist on metallic eyeliner to a pared back manicure that stops just short of buff, here are the seven beauty lessons we’ll be taking with us this weekend.

1 / 7

There are at least a dozen ways to work a kohl eye pencil—and you are going to want to try them all. Master the winged cat eye (shown here at Oscar de la Renta), practice a graphic smudge (Diane von Furstenberg), or paint it black with an abstract stroke of pigment (Suno).

2 / 7

The only lip color that matters is a deep, dark, slightly off-kilter red. Whether you choose a raspberry matte stain (shown here at Carolina Herrera), a perfectly drawn bordeaux (Marchesa), or a grunge-inspired shade of cherry (3.1 Phillip Lim), layer it on thick.

3 / 7

Supernatural skin comes down to your moisturizer. At shows from Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein Collection to Rag & Bone and Opening Ceremony, hydrating masks or supercharged face serums were mandatory precursors to makeup. Prepare to stock up.

4 / 7

It’s time to rethink the topknot. Slicked up all the way to the forehead and given reflective shine at Marc Jacobs, the model-off-duty style is taking on a deliberate new polish. For the most modern incarnation, leave the ends untucked.

5 / 7

A barely-there nail polish in neutral beige, grey, or nude—as seen at shows from Alexander Wang to Altuzarra—is the beauty understatement of the moment. Victoria Beckham’s manicure, buffed to perfection, then muted with a matte topcoat, offers the easiest upkeep.

6 / 7

The downtown headband is back. Wake up late, pull it low over your forehead à la Proenza Schouler, and consider yourself ready for the office, gallery hopping, or the beach.

7 / 7

When fall’s sartorial penchant for glimmer does not suffice, take a cue from makeup artist James Kaliardos at Rodarte and string a delicate row of flashing crystals under your lashlines. Because a little gratuitous sparkle never hurt anyone.